Mistakes I’ve Made & What I’ve Learned From Them

Over the past 47 years of my life, I have learned a few things that I wish someone had told me sooner. Instead, like most of us, I had to learn this all on my own which was probably good life experience even if it felt like hell at that moment in time.

During this week’s blog I want to dive into some of those mistakes with you. I want you to learn from my mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, the challenge is to ensure that you’re not repeating those same mistakes.

You’ve got to decide to learn from your past to ensure that you don’t repeat it. 

If you believe that only stupid people make common mistakes, you’re as wrong as I was. The truth is that everyone makes mistakes. 

Smart people admit that. Stupid people do not.

What’s more, the smartest and most successful people in history have made the most mistakes. 

Are those two things connected…I think so. This Albert Einstein quote says it all:

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”

Let’s go ahead and dive into my (7) seven mistakes I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned from them. 

Mistake 1: Giving Power to Fear

Lesson: You feed fear and that’s how it grows. 

Mistake 2: Not Facing Realities

Lesson: It is what it is…Being a realist has its benefits. 

Mistake 3: Not knowing How to Confidently Disagree with Authority.

Lesson: Those in authority aren’t always right and it’s OK to agree to disagree. 

Mistake 4: Being Afraid to Talk About Money. 

Lesson: You won’t be able to have it until you’re comfortable talking about it

Mistake 5: Trying to fix what's damaged beyond repair.

Lesson: Learn to evaluate them, assess what’s broken beyond repair and build the confidence/courage to walk away from it. 

Mistake 6: Being afraid to express love publicly. 

Lesson: Its ok to express love publicly. 

Mistake 7: Not being able to discuss everything with friends/partners/family. 

Lesson: Comfortably not having anything I’m afraid to talk about with those around me.

There are tons of lessons you can learn from someone else’s mistakes. I pray as you learn the mistakes I’ve made and the lessons that I’ve learned, that you take some time out and assess where you are and what you have done so far. 

It’s your journey! If you’re going to live EFFECTIVELY you’re going to have to learn from your mistakes.